A number of documentary and dramatic works have been written about the real-life character Ellen Pakkies

Ellen Pakkies the character

A seemingly ordinary woman living in a notoriously violent area named Lavender Hill, on the Cape Flats, in the vicinity of Cape Town, she murdered her beloved son Adam, or 'Abie' as she called him, who was an abusive crystal metaphetatimine (tik) addict.

The story created an international stir in 2007 and 2008 and continued to do so for years afterwards. As well as two international doctorates written about her, there have been a documentary film, a stage play and a feature film

The documentary

Shown on The Crime Investigation Network, the documentary won the filmmaker, Michael Duffett (1956-2021), a South African Journalism Award.

My Naam/My Name is Ellen Pakkies - the bilingual play (2011-2012)

My Naam/My Name is Ellen Pakkies a bilingual (English/Afrikaans) play by Liz Meiring ().

The original text

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2011: Performed at Klein Karoo National Arts Festival from 4 to 8 April, then to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 13 April to 7 May, the Cederberg Arts Festival on 1 May and Aardklop Festival in 2011, directed by Lizz Meiring with Vinette Ebrahim and Christo Davids.

2012: Performed at the Joburg Promusica Theatre on 4 and 5 May. .